Powys

Powys' population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in average age, work life and marriage.

The population passed 130,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Powys increased by 5.2%, from just over 126,000 to 133,000.

The addition of about 6,600 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Powys was home to, on average, 0.19 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Wales' least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Powys

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Powys increased by four years, from 42 to 46 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than Shropshire (one of the most statistically similar areas to Powys based on ONS area classifications) (44 years of age) and the highest average age in Wales.

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 5,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 4,000.

About 15% of people in Powys are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Neath Port Talbot and Powys by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Powys fell from 21% to 19% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 1,526 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 8,136.

In Neath Port Talbot (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Powys), 15% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 18% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Powys saw Wales' second-largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

During this period, Powys overtook to become the Wales local authority area with the highest percentage of long hours workers.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Powys said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 18% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.9% to 2.9%.

Wales' largest decrease in the proportion of people working long hours occurred in Denbighshire (from 14% to 10%).

Long hour working in Powys decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Powys, Neath Port Talbot and Wales that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Powys

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in Powys, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales.

During this period, Powys fell below to become the Wales local authority area with the second-lowest percentage of single people.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) people aged 16 and over in Powys said they were single, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 55% to 51%.

Merthyr Tydfil saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 28% to 35%).

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in private renting

Private renting increased in Powys, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales.

Across Wales, the proportion of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in nearby Neath Port Talbot increased from 5.9% to 10%.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households in Powys rented privately, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 15% to 14%.

Newport saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes (from 5.4% to 14%).

Private renting was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households that rented privately across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

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